1997 Cadillac ELDORADO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
90,191 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 31 complaints (12.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 19.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 12.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 9.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 2 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2003: 8; 2004: 2; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10052162 · 2003-12-30 (December 30, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155788 · 2006-04-20 (April 20, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE AND VIBRATES EVERY TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. A VARIETY OF MANEUVERS ARE USED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE EFFECTIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,382 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014702 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND LIFTED UP THE HOOD, HE DISCOVERED THAT GASOLINE HAD LEAKED ALL OVER THE ENGINE. *JB DEALER REPLACED LEAKING FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199132 · 2007-08-02 (August 2, 2007)
RECALL REQUEST FOR ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CUSTOMER IS ASKING FOR INFO ABOUT RECALL EA04-003**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS INJURED DUE TO HIS FRIENDS 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO STALLING. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL NUMBER 04V110000. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10199132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079707 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
RECALL 04V110000 CONCERNING FUEL RAIL FAILURE. WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL RAIL HAD PIN HOLES, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206897 · 2007-10-25 (October 25, 2007)
I WAS NOTIFIED OF A SAFETY RECALL ON MY 1997 CADILLAC EL DORADO THAT TUBING USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONST. MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT DONE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY POSSIBLY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I FEEL THIS IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR, I DIDN'T CREATE THIS PROBLEM AND FEEL GM SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE IT SAFE BY REPLACING IT AT NO CHARGE. ANYWAY! I THOUGHT I WOULD LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING. THANKS GR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10206897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016634 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WHEN I STAR OUT AND IT HAPPENED TO OR IS RAINING I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. AFTER I BELIEVE THE BELT TO DRY IT IS OKAY. AT ONE TIME IT LOCKED UP IN A TURN AND IT TAKES SUPERMAN TO STEER. THIS COULD BE THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT AT ONE TIME I READ THAT THE NHTSA BOARD WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS BUT CADILLAC DID NOT CORRESPOND TO THE BOARDS COMPLAINT. THIS IS A DEFINITELY A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD PROBABLY SOLVED BY SOME TYPE OF COVER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10873929 · 2016-06-13 (June 13, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM/GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. ...UPDATED 08/29/16 UPDATED 6/11/18*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185928 · 2007-03-22 (March 22, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE LOW COOLANT INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO REFILL THE COOLANT RECEPTACLE. THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONCE. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT NOTICED A CLOUD OF SMOKE APPEARING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BLOWN HEAD BOLTS FROM WITHIN THE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 53000.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185928 at NHTSA ↗